08 May 2016

A friend mentioned today the fires in Alberta, Canada are bringing smoke and the campfire smell to her area in Minneapolis, MN. This is the second summer I'll be in Canada, and same as last year, hearing about the wild fires crossing the border into the US, causing an affect on parts thousands of miles away.

A point to consider here is how in one place of the world - what happens there, has an affect on another part of the world, seemingly separate from the source of what is going on. Yet here it is, a small, yet significant example of the interconnectedness of our world.

Fires rage in Canada cause the US to experience the aftermath. No borders keeping out the smoke and smell. Makes our whole border situation seem silly in the first place. You can keep people contained perhaps, with the illusions of borders, but this is One Earth, and what happens on this One Earth affects us all.

Often times it's not right on our door step, or fogging up our air, or causing a stench to linger... that is when it's the easiest to just ignore the world around us, what is going on on this One Earth. But then something like this happens and you realize... we are interconnected. The changes, and experience of one part of the Earth has an affect on the rest of this world.

The radiation pouring in the Asian oceans, or the hurricanes brewing in the South, or an Earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, or the Rain Forests being rampaged for resources, or an oil spill on our Coasts... What happens on this planet happens to us all, directly or indirectly. It could be prices to spike in our super markets, or the lack of fish available to eat, or refugees pouring into our cities. There is always a consequence to each action; a drop of water in the ocean creating ripples. An outflow to every decision, and so action made... and somehow, it touches each and every single life.

It's not wise for us to wait until it becomes too obvious, we know that, and yet we do nothing to change. Prevention is the best cure, we know that, yet we don't care. We rather "enjoy the moment" than consider the bigger picture, we'd rather get our quick fix, and happy times while we still can, without considering what's to come. There will be a time when it is knocking on our door.... how we are disrupting and disturbing our ecosystems for profit, how we are killing off spectacular species for the glory of the kill, how we are pumping toxins into our air, despite having access to clean, renewable sources of energy, just because it's 'easier' to accept things as they are, and not demanding a change in our policies, and inherently, our living principles. We should care what happens in Canada, in the US, in China, in India, in Europe, in the Philippines, in Africa... we should care how life is being lived, and whether it's being provided for for All, nurtured equally, and not exploited, abused, or disregarded. This is our own Earth. Our Only Home.

We are so short sighted, not seeing how when one person suffers, we are all suffering. Sooner or later we will realize the consequence of every action, by every human, as our very society has made, and it will either be too late, or we will be just in time. We have the most instance access to information ever provided in Human History, it is our responsibility to understand this world, those that are running it, and how our direct, or indirect participation is sustaining how it currently exists. Open your eyes, and see the big picture. What exists 'out there', exists 'in here' - existent in the very nature of each person. We have a responsibility in this Life to clean up our mess, to understand our interconnected relationship, and to create a world that is Best for all.

See for real the Reality that exists for us All - See what we are doing on and to our Earth. She is vast, vulnerable, and requires our attention.

06 May 2016

One of the most vital elements to changing, to this process we are walking within Humanity, is to understand why things exist the way that they do. Since writing about this forgiveness point the past few days, I’ve come to notice more and more how we are so quick to judge things in our world.

Indiana just installed a drop-box for mothers no longer wanting their babies. This was created due to the amount of babies being abandoned by their mothers, some I’m sure not lucky enough to survive, while others being found and put into the system such as foster care, and then perhaps adoption. We want to condemn these woman, to be appalled by the fact that a city must install such a thing – a drop box for unwanted babies. As woman, and I’m sure as mothers, we cannot even imagine how one could abandon their babies like that.

But it exists, so we’ll have to. We’ll have to imagine what would possibly go through the minds of these women, and parents. We will have to imagine what dire situation they must be in to feel that is their only option. We must imagine the system in which they live wherein they are either too addicted, too poor, too afraid, or too dis-empowered to feel as though they cannot care for a baby.

We will have to imagine it because it exists. And condemning these woman, or being disgusted by the fact that a state took an initiative to install a baby drop box for those woman feeling there is no other way does nothing to solve the problem.

As a matter of fact, we don’t have to imagine, because it exists and so we can understand. Talk to these woman, stand in their shoes, look at their life, their family upbringing… see WHY and HOW they were in a position where in their life they felt they had to make such a decision. See what events took place that molded their minds, that shaped their lives, that contributed to who they became that led them to that very moment. It’s all relevant… it’s all a sequence of a source.

These woman are us. These parents are us. They are subject to the same life conditions we are. Some more severe, some better off – though their lives are determined by a system of money, of corruption, of greed, of self-interest, of abuse, of neglect, of inconsideration for actual Life.

These are symptoms of a problem within all of humanity. And we are only continuing the sickness through condemning those we are not willing to understand. Miss-takes are made, consequences are created, and our own internal mental process is our prison of enslavement. Unless we provide a solution, we are a part of the problem.

So let me suggest for us to stop judging, and stop condemning. Let’s start to Understand. Why? Why are women, and parents feeling they have no other option? Why are they afraid to tell their family about their pregnancy? Why do they feel they cannot raise a child? Why have they preferred a life of chasing a high, then the real value of physical matter which they’ve grown inside of them? Yes – each individual is responsible for the decisions made in their life, but we are too responsible for our world as a whole. How can we contribute to healing humanity?

We can start but stopping the blame, and stopping the judgment. We can start to forgive. But first we must understand. Do not see an outflow without tracing it back to its origin. You or I are no better than the woman making I’m sure one of the most difficult decisions in their life… to ones that must forever live with that decision, to face it for the rest of their lives. Who are we to add to their turmoil? Rather, be a beacon of compassion, of understanding, and dare I say it… hop. Hope that humanity to can get their act together, step up, stand up for one another, and stop dividing ourselves based on judgments and opinions of other people’s lives. See the BIG picture. Understand Why. Understand How. Then we can begin to heal.

05 May 2016

To wrap up the points written in the previous blogs, the following are corrective statements, and commitment statements of how I can change myself in future moments... expanding my application of living Forgiveness.

"I forgive myself that I have not allowed myself to realize the importance and value of forgiveness, not only for/toward oneself, but even more so outward towards others… in forgiving those that know not what they do, and so being an example one can learn from and realize forgiveness is possible and the key to changing our world - individually as well as collectively"

When and as I see myself condemning, and judging others for one moment of interaction, one behavior, or statement, or change in tonality, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand that this is automatically defining them absolutely within just one moment of a whole lifetime, and that within it, there is no understanding or forgiveness and so I commit myself to consider more than just the moment before me, more than just what I see in one moment of another, and to consider the WHOLE story, the whole picture, the whole being and the whole life that lead up to such an expression, or behavior, or movement I was the judge another for, and rather see MORE than my own mind as the reaction

When and as I see myself not allowing myself to consider, and LIVE forgiveness in a moment in relation to another, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand how supportive and important self-forgiveness is for me, and so also see, realize, and understand it’s time to expand my application of forgiveness to be towards others as well. I commit myself to expand my understanding and application of forgiveness to those around me…. Living then the principle of ‘love thy neighbor as thy self’

When and as I see myself automatically thinking the worst of people, as not having patience or understanding within a moment with them, and to just write them off as being selfish, or ignorant, or lacking real care or consideration, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand that perhaps I am not investigating myself in the same respect, and to check within me where I am accepting and allowing myself to be selfish, ignorant, or lacking real care, and consideration as the actual source of m reactions towards others. I commit myself to thus always take SELF-responsibility as a moment of reflection to ensure I am not living that which I blame/judge others for so that then I can ensure I am able to exist within understanding, care, and forgiveness in relation to not only myself, but others as well

When and as I see myself not wanting to give time, attention, care, and support to others around me that I’ve defined as not willing to change, or who display the same behavior that I see is not supportive for them or others, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand that there could be in fact a relationship where interaction is no longer necessary as it proves to no longer serve one or both beings, though within the above is more the starting point of dismissal rather than understanding, and deciding practically. And so I commit myself to not just write people off due to a reaction or judgment that I have, but rather actually assess a relationship practically – seeing if one or both are being served within what is best for both within the relationship, and if not, let it be and let it go without any resentments, judgments or blame

When and as I see myself not living care, support, understanding, and forgiveness towards others through quickly reacting to a statement, or movement, or tonality they make, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand that such a reaction is based on a judgment of it being ‘bad/wrong/negative’ and is not actually any of those things… it is simply a moment of one expressing themselves based on who they’ve accepted and allowed themselves to be and become. And so I commit myself to instead love another as I love myself, and give as I’ve given to myself, which is NO judgment and rather understanding of why someone expressed the way they do

When and as I see myself thinking other people will never change, and so want to just give up on them, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand that I would not want that for myself – I would not want another to give up on me, and I have so many examples of people who have stood as support for me over the years, despite me repeating patterns that still are necessary to change, yet never giving up on me and so I commit myself to extend this gift to others as I’ve been given myself by others… to practice staying consistent in my support, care, and living forgiveness through not reacting and giving up on others, but rather being patient, understanding and willing to support

When and as I see myself defining forgiveness as something that is conditional, such as applying the statement that only some deserve it, and others don’t based on my own assessment/judgment/opinions/beliefs, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand that within such a point, I am expecting others to live up to a standard that perhaps is not practical for them, or that I have not applied and lived unconditionally myself, and so rather than condemning and blaming others so quick and suggest they don’t deserve forgiveness, I commit myself to realizing ALL are worthy of forgiveness, as ALL live within a potential to exist and express what is best for all and so I also commit myself to see the potential within all and to do what I can in each moment to harness that potential not only within me, but others as well to show the possibilities of life on earth, relationships with others, and the equality of life fully expressed

04 May 2016

"Without forgiveness, there is no understanding. Without understanding, there is no ‘stand in the shoes of another’, and ‘give as you would like to receive.’ Without these guiding principles, we have what we currently have – greed, corruption, self-interest, separation, inequality, war, hate, neglect of life in all its forms. Forgiveness is our salvation. And while it starts with ourselves, I can see for myself it’s time to expand my forgiveness outward. To forgive them for they know not what they do."

I forgive myself that I haven’t accepted and allowed myself to live forgiveness in relation to others

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to condemn and judge others for one moment of interaction, one behavior, or statement, or change in tonality, and automatically define them absolutely and not allow room for understanding and so forgiveness

I forgive myself that I have not yet allowed myself to expand my understanding and expression of forgiveness to go beyond myself, in seeing how supportive and important self-forgiveness is, I now see, realize, and understand it’s time to expand that towards those around me

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to automatically think of the worst of people, in not having patience or understanding within a moment with them, and simply just write them of as being selfish, or ignorant, or lacking real care or consideration, instead of investigating myself in the same respect… where am I accepting and allowing myself to be selfish, ignorant, or lacking real care and consideration as the actual source of my reactions towards others exists within and only me

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to not want to give the time, attention, care and so support to others around me that I’ve defined as not willing to change, or who display the same behavior that I see is not supportive for them or others

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to resist those around me through reactions to those around me, instead of embracing them as my equal, and equally worthy of care, consideration, and forgiveness

I forgive myself that I have not allowed myself to live care, support, understanding, and forgiveness towards others through quickly reacting to a statement, or movement, or tonality that I define as being something negative, instead giving as I would like to receive, and as I’ve given to myself, which is NO judgment and rather understanding of why someone expresses the way they do

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to think other people will never change and so simply give up on them without considering would I want that for myself? I know many people who have stood as support for me over the years, despite me repeating patterns that still are necessary to change, yet not giving up on me and rather stay consistent in their support, care, and forgiveness and so I forgive myself that I have not yet embodied the example I see from others that has been given to me - unconditionally forgiveness and support

I forgive myself that I have not allowed myself to be consistent in living forgiveness as applying it outward, and not just inward towards/with myself

I forgive myself that I have not allowed myself to realize the importance and value of forgiveness, not only for/toward oneself, but even more so outward towards others… in forgiving those that know not what they do, and so being an example one can learn from and realize forgiveness is possible and the key to changing our world - individually as well as collectively

I forgive myself that I have defined forgiveness as something conditional – wherein I’ve applied the statement that only some deserve it, and others don’t, by how I’m quick to judge and react and blame and condemn those not living up to a standard I think they should be living

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to set standards for other people in who they are and how they must live, instead of realizing everyone is walking their own process, some at different paces, and in different spaces and so it’s not up to me to direct others or determine if what they are doing is good enough or not, but to live MYSELF according to principles that are best for all, and that are self-honesty, to never be within judgment and instead UNDERSTAND WHY people are the way they are, how we’ve created certain minds to be who they are, to understand and forgive what is here as the way to create solutions to change

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to expect from others what I’m not unconditionally living myself

03 May 2016

Recently I’ve been looking at the point of forgiveness… in the context of how quick I am to judge, to react, and to assume the worst of others. Many times I’m interacting with other people, and one simple thing said, or one movement expressed, or one change of tonality and I am quick to just judge the person, and define them absolutely according to that one moment.

The Desteni Process I am walking, which is really just my own process of self-change, is all about forgiveness. Specifically forgiving thoughts, feelings, and emotions that do not honor what is best for self, and so of course, what is best for all. And while I see the value and importance of forgiving myself, I have yet to apply this to others/my outside world.

About four or five years ago, shortly after I began this process, I noticed or came to see and realize just how hard, harsh, and tough I was on myself. And in that, how I was inherently resisting me because I was judging everything about me, everything I saw within my mind, every behavior or experiences I had when around other people, the jealousy, the spite, the envy, the desire… I didn’t like it and I was quick to judge myself and come down hard on myself for existing in such ways. Though through time, and with the support of the tools within the Desteni Process, and those others walking their own process, I came to realize the importance of me embracing me; of me loving me, of accepting me in who I am in THIS moment. I would apply breathing when I saw myself react to my own mind, I would even physically hug myself – wrapping my own arms around me, embracing me and physically expressing self-love and care, really taking a moment to be with me, and to show myself I was here for myself. I was soothing the inherent need to fight and resist myself, and rather I accepted this me I am in such a moment as the understanding that is the only way I can change. I have to first embrace me, understand me, forgive me and then let go.

So this aspect of self-forgiveness I absolutely understood from the beginning, and can say it’s a point I’ve been able to change throughout the last few years. I am no longer hard on myself, I am much more patient with myself, I am much more nurturing and supportive then I’ve ever been before... towards me.

Though now I see I have yet to express this outward. When I notice myself jumping to conclusions, and jumping to assessing who someone is through just one moment with them, I realize forgiveness, as a living word, is not present. I will have to forgive others to be able to support others. I will have to forgive others to create something new with others. If we only just hold things against each other from past miss-takes, or miss moments of change, then we are only condemning ourselves to the same conflictual relationships we’ve always existed as. Forgiveness is to start over, to build something new, and to nurture the potential within each one.

I am going to have to embrace, honor, and nurture those around me, as I've been able to do for myself.

This world is built upon individuals, each one equally worthy of forgiveness. If we cannot forgive the worst parts of ourselves, the worst parts of humanity, then what’s the point? Forgiveness exists in order for us to be able to move on, to change, and to create equality within humanity that honors the inherent worth of all. Perhaps one day we won’t need forgiveness as a living word, though where we are at now collectively, forgiveness is the key.

Without forgiveness, there is no understanding. Without understanding, there is no ‘stand in the shoes of another’, and ‘give as you would like to receive.’ Without these guiding principles, we have what we currently have – greed, corruption, self-interest, separation, inequality, war, hate, neglect of life in all its forms. Forgiveness is our salvation. And while it starts with ourselves, I can see for myself it’s time to expand my forgiveness outward. To forgive them for they know not what they do.

I see I can forgive myself, so now it’s time to forgive others. To stop the reactions the moment they arise. To give others the opportunity to see how they can be better; to live their utmost potential, and to not deny them this through my acceptance of judgment, blame, assumptions, and dismissal.

01 May 2016

"It’s not really ‘them’ I am bothered by for not speaking direct to people, and instead talk behind their backs. It’s ME bothered by the fact that I cannot do that myself. And why? Because of fear… avoiding conflict, imagining harsh reactions that I may cower from. Fear of standing by my own insights, realization and understandings…."

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to react negatively when hearing others talking about people who are not around/in the environment as a point of gossip

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to blame those that gossip/talk about others who are not around as being unfair and nasty because those they are talking about are not there to speak for themselves or address what is being said about them

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to blame those that speak about others as having nothing important or valuable to say, and so to within this, dismiss them as who they are, to simply write them all, to define them based on one moment of them speaking about others instead of realizing or rather understanding the WHY they do such things, and find solutions for myself in terms of how I can support to change such a moment

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to exist within/as judgment when I hear others gossiping about people – to cast my judgments unto them, and to within that, see myself as superior/better than them

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to define myself as better than others just because I perhaps understand the consequences of gossiping, and that it is not acceptable, and I should treat others the way I want to be treated, instead of realizing that in my defining myself as better than others is the exact same reason why I’m upset in the first place… because usually the gossiper is speaking from a point of superiority, and casting judgment onto those they are gossiping about and so in this… seeing I am doing the exact same thing unto others that they are doing to those that aren’t around

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to project myself unto others as in to blame and judge those that do something/take an action that I do not agree with, such as talking negatively about others when they are not around to defend themselves yet to do that myself towards those I am judging/blaming as speaking (in my mind) negatively about others, and not speaking directly to them so as to give them also an opportunity to defend themselves, or to share themselves in a way that perhaps promotes change/self-understanding, and responsibility

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to blame and judge the gossipers for not being direct in communicating to those they are talking about behind their backs… to define them as weak and cowardly for not being able to say to the face of the being they are talking about what they are willing to say about them to others, instead of realizing that I am existing within such the same point whereas I fear speaking directly to those that gossip in saying to them what they are doing is not cool and give an understanding to the behavior rather than just condemning them as bad people

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to fear speaking up and standing up for those that are not present to defend themselves when I hear people talking/gossiping about them when they are not around… as actually DOING what I would have done unto me, and treating others the way I would want to be treated, and so to not give such power to the gossipers as fearing how they will respond/react to me if I suggest they stop what they are doing

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to fear conflict with others and so just create it within myself such as when I hear someone speaking in a way that is not supportive about another that is not around to speak their part – instead of saying something as in suggesting the one to stop, I rather go into myself/my mind and react negatively, going into conflict internally against the person, rather than physically speaking and directing the point to understanding and a solution

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed my own self-interest to get in the way of what is doing best for all as speaking to one who is gossiping and suggesting it is not supportive behavior and sharing the perspective of do unto another as you would have done unto yourself, but to rather react in fear, and coward within myself in fear of conflict and reactions from others and so to simply then stay quiet and within this, enable the behavior to continue

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to enable the behavior of gossiping about others through staying silent/not speaking directly and opening about such behavior being unacceptable and not within the principle of what is best for all

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to limit myself within how I express myself, or when I am faced with a point of expansion and growth, as stepping out of my comfort zone, when I hear others gossiping/speaking negatively about others when they are not around as suggesting to those doing the action to stop, or give opportunities to understand why the behavior is not acceptable

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to see myself as inferior to others as not wanting to speak directly to those that gossip that what they are doing/saying is not acceptable, and to fear directing the conversation back to themselves as the REAL source of judgments/blame/inferiority/superiority/insecurity/jealousy… supporting others to self-reflect rather than deflect in focusing on/judging/discussing other people and their lives

I forgive myself that I have not allowed myself to live and thus express the importance of self-reflection as what really matters in this world… as the most valuable communication we can have is with/about ourselves in the nature of self-honesty… taking a real look as who we are in relation to EVERYTHING within ALL moments of our lives as the actual, living process of ‘man know thyself’

When and as I see myself reacting towards others as blaming/judgment/dismissing them as who they are when/as I hear/see them speaking about others, or gossiping about others, I stop and I breathe. I see, realize, and understand that my reaction to others speaking about others behind their backs, and not speaking to them directly is directly linked to who I am in such moments... it is in fact a reflection of myself within not willing to face/direct and speak to those I see speaking/gossiping about others and how it is not within what is best for all, and is just a deflection from what one actually experience in relation to themselves. I commit myself to see, realize, and understand the responsibility I have to live and express principles that are best for all, and that first starts with my responsibility to living in such a way I want/expect others to, and that is within principles that are best for all, that consider others as equal, to not judge, or blame, or dismiss but to rather understand, and forgive, and to be self-honest. And so I commit myself to change ME as the actual source of my conflict by stopping the fear of conflict within/as me as speaking up, and directly to those that participate in gossip when in my presence, and to share understandings that such behavior is not acceptable and can actually be changed.

I commit myself to stop blaming others for things I participate in as well

I commit myself to stop judging others for things I do as well

I commit myself to start with myself as the source from which change must and can only emerge

I commit myself to live in such a way wherein I become an example, and no longer need to fear what I express, as it becomes a natural expression of me based on who I am, how I live, and the principles in which I apply in my life

I commit myself to develop and practice living/practicing principles that are best for all so that others may see change, self-responsibility, integrity, and real love is possible